The glitz of playing in the Champions League and bragging rights over their fiercest rivals are a couple of rewards for whoever out of Arsenal and Tottenham win the top-four battle.

But in terms of cold hard cash, the difference between finishing fourth and fifth in the Premier League is worth at least £18million. And with UEFA’S Financial Fair Play kicking in next season, that money will be vital to the clubs’ aspirations of competing with the elite.

Providing the team who are fourth in the Premier League win their Champions League play-off, they will pick up £21m from UEFA even if they finish bottom of their group.

However, England’s Europa League entrants would receive only £3m if they failed to make it out of the group stage.

Naturally, making progress means more money, with the gulf between the tournaments growing even wider. Chelsea picked up £51m for landing the Champions League last season, dwarfing the £9m that went to Europa League winners Atletico Madrid.

Austin Houlihan, senior consultant in the Deloitte Sports Business Group said: “Being in the Champions League has significant revenue benefits and it has the kudos and profile benefits that help attract top players. The underpinning principle of financial fair play is that you spend within the limits of what you earn.

“Obviously, the more you earn the more you’ve got to spend. The revenue delivered from participating in the Champions League provides a significant boost to the club’s revenue performance.”

On top of the UEFA money, clubs will also pocket millions in matchday revenue with Champions League games more attractive to fans than the second-tier competition.

Tottenham’s three Champions League group games in 2010 against Inter Milan, FC Twente and Werder Bremen pulled in a total of 100,167 supporters while this season’s Europa League games against Lazio, Maribor and Panathinaikos drew 84,673.

Tonight’s game at the Emirates has implications at the other end of the table, with Wigan fighting for survival.

Adam Bull, a senior consultant at Deloitte, said: “The impact of relegation this season is likely to be around £40m-£50m. The large reduction in income from missing out on the first year of the new Premier League broadcast deal will be partly offset by the estimated increase in parachute payments to relegated clubs. Of the £40-50m, the reduction in broadcast income will be in the region of £35m.”